Letters : [received from Augustus A. Gould and others in response to a request for "information in regard to the connection of Dr. C.T. Jackson and Mr. W.T.G. Morton with the ether discovery of the anaesthetic effects of sulphuric ether"].

Date:
[1852?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters : [received from Augustus A. Gould and others in response to a request for "information in regard to the connection of Dr. C.T. Jackson and Mr. W.T.G. Morton with the ether discovery of the anaesthetic effects of sulphuric ether"]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    St *a. LETTERS, Letter from Augustus A. Gould. Boston, March 29,4852. Honored Sir : I proceed to answer the questions proposed by you as directly as I can, without subjecting myself to be misap- prehended. First. Did Dr. C. T. Jackson, during the months of October and November, 1846, repeatedly claim in your presence the dis- covery of the anaesthetic properties of sulphuric ether ? Answer. The expression claim the discovery, I think Would scarcely convey the correct idea; but, in numerous conversations with him during the period specified, he at all times averred that he proposed the use of sulphuric ether to Dr. Morton anterior to, and in direct connection with, his first dental operation under its influence. Second. Whether or not, about the middle of November, Dr. J. made this claim in presence of yourself, W» T. G. Morton, R. H. Eddy and H. J. Bigelow? Answer. I do not distinctly recollect such a claim being made at the interview alluded to. Dr. J. visited my office at that time in reference to an article which Dr. Bigelow was about to publish, and was much agitated at the time of his entrance. This matter appeared to have been satisfactorily adjusted, and the conversa- tion turned pleasantly on the whole subject of etherization. I remember that Dr. J. told Morton that he sent him to the hospital. Presuming that M. would not admit this, and not wishing to have a fresh outbreak at that time, I made a sign to him not to contend, when he calmly replied, Well, if you can prove it, it must of course be so. From this it may be inferred that he had ?nade a more general claim, though I do not remember to have heard it. Third. Whether or not you heard Dr. J., at a meeting of the